Iran open to investment, win-win economic exchange: President

Speaking at an Iran-Italy business forum in the Italian capital, Rome, on Tuesday, President Rouhani referred to vast untapped resources in the country that await investment, saying Iranian rules and regulations are reliable for investment and that Tehran has never violated its commitments to other countries or foreign companies.

He said the recent removal of anti-Iran sanctions had opened channels for joint export markets with other countries and created an atmosphere of exchange in different fields of economy.

On January 16, Iran and the permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – plus Germany started to implement the nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), they had reached in July 2015.

After JCPOA came into force, all nuclear-related sanctions imposed on Iran by the European Union, the United Nations Security Council and the United States were permanently lifted. Iran in return has put some limitations on its nuclear activities.

Iran’s president further pointed out that Tehran’s model of success in nuclear negotiations could also be taken up by businesses from both sides.

He also highlighted Italy’s partnership with Iran, saying the two countries can cooperate in areas of technology, agriculture, energy, pharmaceuticals among others.

Rouhani arrived in Rome on Monday on the first leg of his trip to three European destinations following the implementation of a nuclear agreement between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries.

He left Tehran at the head of a high-ranking delegation, which includes government officials, Iranian entrepreneurs and businessmen.

During a ceremony attended by the Iranian president and his Italian counterpart Sergio Mattarella in Rome on Monday night, the two countries signed a number of contracts in various sectors including health, transportation, agriculture and energy, worth up to 17 billion euros (USD 18.4 billion).

Rouhani’s European tour will take him to France on Wednesday, where he is expected to pen economic deals with Paris.